"So," Tom flipped through his notebook. "We have the creatures on our side. Well done."
Dolohov snorted. "If it hadn't been for Mia I doubt we would have won them all over."
Hermione smirked in pleasure.
"What are we going to do now?" Lestrange asked.
Opening his note book to a blank page, Tom held his quill poised to write. "I want name of those families who will help."
"Lestrange, Malfoy, Rosier, Nott, Avery, Mulciber, Dolohov…" Hermione ticked off the names on her fingers, smirking gleefully.
"Yes, thank you, Mia." Tom rolled his eyes, those families had already pledged their loyalty – some going as far as getting branded. "Any helpful names."
Radolphus shifted in his seat. "Rabastan is betrothed to Bellatrix Black and that family is steeped in the Dark Arts. I don't know how willing they'd be to join us."
"Good, thank you, Radolphus." Tom nodded his head, quill scratching on paper.
Listening to her boys throwing out names, Hermione sat by quietly. Over half of the name she could give, the people wouldn't even be born for a few years.
"Orion and Walburga Black would jump to join us, my Lord." Nott grinned. "Unlike Cygnus and Druella Black, who are more cautious; Orion and Walburga are not."
Malfoy nodded. "Cantankerus is right. You'll get Orion and Walburga on Dark Arts alone. Cygnus and Druella will be interested in the Dark Arts of course, but they'll be more interested in our politics."
"What you're saying," Hermione leaned forward, elbows resting on the table. "Is Orion and Walburga are fanatics and Cygnus and Druella are revolutionaries?"
Nott and Malfoy nodded.
"Most of the people we've found are fanatics." Dolohov swallowed.
Closing her eyes, Hermione sighed. And that, therein lies the problem.
"Mia?" Tom frowned, reaching out and gently touching her arm.
"We need more revolutionaries, Tom."
Scowling, Tom nodded. "I know, I know. I'm hoping to catch them with Dark Arts and keep them with politics.
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"Who's left?" Hermione asked as she pulled on one of her nicer robes.
"Cygnus Black." Tom sighed. "The Head of the Black family; interestingly, he named his eldest daughter his heir."
Surprise showed on Hermione's face. "He's progressive."
"No." Tom snorted. "Nott said – of course he heard this from Walburga – the only reason Cygnus named Bellatrix his heir was to keep it away from Walburga's 'spawn'."
"Great, let's go deal with this aristocratic Pureblood." Hermione sighed, her blood status coming to the forefront of her mind.
Crashing their lips together, Tom plundered her mouth with his tongue. Nipping her bottom lip, he stepped back. "Time to go, Mia."
Slipping her hand into the crook of his arm, Hermione smiled at him.
Apparating to the front gate of Black Manor – which swung open at their appearance, Tom led them up the crushed marble path to the red cedar front door. The Dark Lord rapped on the door.
A house elf dressed in tattered rags opened the door and silently led them into the drawing room.
As soon as they entered the room, Hermione appraised the man and three girls. Cygnus was a tall, broad shouldered man with cropped black hair. Cold, grey eyes passed right over her and the Pureblood smirk appeared to be a permanent fixture on his face. Hermione wanted nothing more than to rip him apart with her wisps; instead she turned her attention to the eldest girl. Bellatrix had wild, black curls framing her pale face with angry purple eyes. Andromeda was nearly as tall as her older sister and she resembled her so closely they almost looked like twins; however, Andromeda had dark, curly brown hair and dark brown eyes. Narcissa was vastly different from her older sisters, while they all had the same facial structure, that was where the similarities ended. Narcissa has pale – almost white – blonde hair and ice blue eyes.
"Mr. Riddle, I would like you to meet my daughters." Cygnus smiled, ignoring the appraisal Hermione was giving them. "Bellatrix, Andromeda, and Narcissa, girls say hello."
Both Andromeda and Narcissa curtsied. "Hello.
Hermione bit her lip to keep from smiling, they were too cute.
Bellatrix sneered at the guests. "What are you here to get?"
"Bellatrix!" Cygnus snarled, spinning towards her and slapping her across the face.
Bella cackled. "That all you got, old man?"
Lips pulling back in a silent snarl, Hermione took a step forward. Tom grabbed her arm, killing Cygnus wouldn't do them any good. "Tom, don't you and Mr. Black have things to discuss?" Hermione hissed. "I think Miss Bellatrix and I should have a chat, girl to girl."
"We do." Tom nodded, thankful Mia had not killed the man. "Lord Black, where are we going to talk?"
"Follow me." The Black patriarch exited the drawing room.
Hermione made her way to a couch and settled down. She smiled at the sisters. "Now, girls, care to tell me how old you are?"
Narcissa shyly hid behind Andromeda, the older girl reached behind her and wrapped her around her little sister.
"My name is Bellatrix and I am nine years old." Bella sniffed condescendingly. "Andy is six, and Cissy is five."
"You're going to start Hogwarts soon then." Hermione smiled at the eldest Black sister.
Bella stood up straighter. "Yes ma'am."
"Are your sisters always so quiet?" Hermione asked, cocking her head to the side. She wanted to learn all she could about the girls. The way Bellatrix had reacted when her father had struck her spoke volumes.
"Yes" Bellatrix shrugged. "Andy's just quiet and Cissy's shy."
Nodding, Hermione glanced at the younger girls. "I understand, if you guys want to go play…"
"Oh no!" Bella exclaimed, interrupting her. "Mother said we have to play host to you."
"Okay, then why don't you sit down?" Hermione chuckled, patting the cushion beside her.
Bella flopped down onto the couch next to her.
Hermione raised an eyebrow. That was not the way any aristocratic Pureblood would ever allow their child to act.
"Yeah, yeah, I know." Bella waved her hand airily. "No pureblood witch should so unladylike."
"Oh, I just imagined that your parents wouldn't be happy with you flopping on their couch is all." Hermione smiled.
"They're not." Bella frowned. "If they knew, I'd be punished."
"Punished?" Tilting her head, Hermione fought to keep her voice neutral. The way Bellatrix had said that set off alarm bells in Hermione's brain.
"Don't tell me your parents didn't punished you for small infractions." Bella snorted.
Hermione took her bottom lip between her teeth. "My parents were muggles."
Cissy gasped, clapping her hands over her mouth. She was terrified of what her parents would do to this nice white. Andy pulled her close.
Bella merely raised an eyebrow. "Just don't tell mother and father. I think you're alright. They, however, might just mount your head on our wall."
Hermione threw her head back and laughed. They could certainly try, she actually wished they would.
Bellatrix sister smirked. She liked this muggle born. She seemed very close to the man her father was always going on about and she was nice – genuinely nice, the voices said so.
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A/N: Sorry for the delay. But here you guys go! If you have any questions about Bellatrix, review! :)